Magnetic toy



Feb. 9, 1954 R. w. MORRISON MAGNETIC TOY Filed March 7, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllllllllll 5.

. INVENTOR, Pa&e//%%///'swz Feb. 9, 1954 Filed Mai-en 7, 1949 R. W. MORRISON MAGNETIC TOY 11'1"" lI'll! !llllllllllllllllllfll 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7: 2 4 4 2: a; q j I IN V EN TOR,

V Q/M Feb. 9, 1954 w, MORRISON 2,668,389

MAGNETIC TOY Filed March 7, 1949 3 She'ets-Sheet 3 i f a r I i i a v a I 5 4 5 F 5 5 5 '1 a? 5 1 N A 71}. 14

Z n I 1% l INVENTOR,

Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC TOY Robert W. Morrison, Kansas City, Mo. Application March 7, 1949, Serial No. 80,040

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in magnetic toys, and has particular reference to magnetic toys of the type wherein miniature vehicles or other wheeled objects are magnetically propelled.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision, in a magnetic toy wherein a miniature vehicle or the like disposed on a platform and having a magnet mounted therein adapted to cooperate with a driving magnet disposed movably beneath said platform, of a novel means whereby said miniature automobile is made to respond rapidly and accurately to movements of said driving magnet. This means includes disposition of the automobile magnet between the front and rear wheels, whereby all of the wheels are urged firmly against the platform, castering the front wheels to the rear of an upright axis whereby said front wheels will trail properly, and inclining the castering axis of said front wheels forwardly.

Another object is the provision of a magnetic toy of the class described wherein a plurality of miniature vehicles disposed on a platform are propelled respectively by individual driving magnets disposed beneath said platform, said driving magnets being so related and moved that the automobiles simulate a race, first one car then another taking the lead, the outcome of the race being a matter of chance.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, dependability and ruggedness, realism of appearance, and adaptability for use in a wide variety of applications.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a magnetic toy embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged magnet holder.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line IVIV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the miniature vehicles.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the vehicle shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6, with parts left in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 7.

plan view of the driving Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view of the forward portion of a miniature vehicle, showing a modified form of front wheel mounting. I

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the device taken just below the platform, showing another method of moving the driver magnets.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12, with parts left in elevation. 4:

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 12, with parts left in elevation.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a housing shown in Figs. 1 and 2. said housing comprising a rectangular box open at one side and having a back wall 4, end walls 6, and a bottom 8. The top of said box is closed by a horizontal platform It) comprising a thin sheet of a suitable non-magnetic material such as aluminum, brass, wood, fibre, or plastic, said platform being fixed to back wall 4 and end walls 6 by suitable brackets I 2. Said back and end walls, and an upwardly extending wall l4 disposed along the edge of platform It at the open side of housing 2, extend above platform II] to form a rail for preventing the miniature vehicles 16 from'running off the edge of said platform at any time. The open side of housing 2 provides an opening I8, as shown in Fig. 2, through which the operator may extend his hand and arm to manipulate the driving magnet holder 20, hereinafter described.

Each miniature vehicle It, as best shown in Figs. 5 to 9, comprises a body 22, made of molded plastic or other light weight non-magnetic material and formed, in the particular representation shown, to simulate a racing car and driver, although it is apparent that other forms could be used, if desired. The front wheels 24 of the car are carried at the outer ends of a front axle 26, being carried for rotation by flanged bushings 28 pressed tightly onto the ends of said axle. Axle 26 is curved, so that the end portions are disposed rearwardly of the central portion, and wheels 24 are in axial alignment. A short rigid shaft 30 is welded or otherwise fixed at its lower end to the midpoint of axle 26, and extends upwardly and slightly forwardly into a socket 3i provided therefor in solid portions 32 of the body 22, as best shown in Fig. 8. Shaft 32 rotates axially, and is prevented from falling free of the body when the car is lifted by a clip 34 fixed to the lower side of the body and extending in spaced relation beneath axle 26.

The rear wheels 36 of the car are carried rotatably in flanged bushings 28 pressed tightly on the end portions of rear axle 38. Said rear axle is straight, and the central portion thereof passes through a vertically enlarged slot 4t formed inaa downwardextension 42 of car body 22. Said axle is prevented from moving longitudinally in slot 40 by means of spacer sleeves 44 carried on the axle and disposed between extension 42 and bushings 28, as best shown in Fig. 9. Thus the rearward axle is free to tilt in a vertical plane relative to the car body.

A permanent bar magnet 46 is adapted to be inserted vertically into a socket '48 provided in a solid portion 59 of the car body.

As best shown in Fig. 8, said magnet is removablyretained in said socket by a spring detent 52 carried by car body 22 and adapted to project resilintly into a groove 54 formed in one side of the magnet. This insures that the magnet can not be inserted with the wrong polarity. The magnets should be removed when shipping or storing to prevent the magnets from becoming neutralized by contact with other magnets. The lower end of inagnet 46 is disposed in closely spaced apart relation to platform Ill. It is desirable that the magnet be disposed 'rearwardly from the axis of front wheels 24, in order that the downward pull or the driving magnets urge all of the wheels against 'the platform, thus removing any tendency to rock the car forward on its front wheels. At the same time, the magnet should be close to the front wheels in order that the steering force be transmittedv directly to the front wheels, thus minimizing any tendency for the rear wheels to skid transversely. It has been found that placing the magnet substantially in line with the rearmost edges of. front wheels 24 produces the greatest stability and steerability. Driving magnet holder 28, best shown in Figs. 3 and .4, comprises a circular turntable made o'fplastic or other non-magnetic material, and having a'pluralityof permanent bar magnets 58 molded or otherwise securely fixed in said turntable at equally spaced points about the periphery thereof Two .magnets are shown, though a greater number could be used if desired. Said turntable is carriedfor free axial rotation on pin B0, .to the downwardly extended end of which is fixed a handle 62. By means of said handle, the operator is enabled to hold turntable 58 against the. lower surface of platform It, and to move it slidably thereag ainst. It will be noted that driving magnets .58 areso disposed that the upper poles thereof cooperate with unlike poles of the car magnets 46, whereby each driving magnet is adapted to drive and steer one car.

The above described wheel mounting of the cars, and the relation of the magnets thereto, provides for easy, accurate steering of the cars. The castering of front wheels 24 provides that they will trail accurately. The tilting of shaft 3t provides that the car will bank realistically to the inside on curves. That is, the car body will tilt laterally while the wheels remain on the platform. The pivotal mounting of rear axles 38 permits the rearward end of the car to tilt also without lifting the-outside rear wheel from the platform. The castering of the front wheels, in combination with the tiltingof shaft 38, provides that the car body will be slightly elevated as well as tilted when making a turn- At the rear axle. the car body will be supported on one of sleeves 44 at point 64 4 when the car is in a right turn, as shown in Fig. 9, and on the other sleeve 44 at point 66 when the car is in a left turn. Thus when the car turns either direction, the car body is slightly elevated against the force of the magnetic attraction acting on magnet 56. Since the magnet urges the car body downwardly, the magnet itself has the effect of urgingthe car into astraight line of travel and of holding it there-so long as driving magnet 58 travels in a straight line. This feature to a large degree eliminates shimmying of the front wheels. It will be noted that the distance between driving magnets 58 carried by turntable 5% is greater than the overall length of one car, in order that the two cars driven by said magnets maybe turned freely in any direction without colliding or in any way interfering with each other.

Turntable 56 is provided with upwardly projecting lugs 68 equally spaced about the periphery thereof. These lugs maintain magnets 58 in spaced apart relation to the lower side of platform Ii), and move slidably against said platform. This contact with the platform causes the turntable to rotate on pin 65. As the turntable rotates the cars will alternately take the lead, depending on the angular position of the turntable, and will pass each other, alternate in taking the inside and outside positions, and thus realistically imitatea race. The rotation of the turntable will not be uniform, but will be a'matter of chance, depending on the pressure exerted by the operator, minute irregularities of the lower surface of the platform, etc. Thus there is no means for forecasting which car will be ahead at any given instant.

In the modified car 10 shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the structure is the same as that of car It except for the mounting of the front wheels 24. Each of said wheels is carried rotatably in a flanged bushing 28 pressed on the outer ends of a short axle 12. The inner ends of said axles are each formed to present-a loop 14. A connecting rod 16 is disposed horizontally and has its end portions carried respectively for pivotal and limited universal movement insaid loops. A rod 18 is fixed to each axle 12 intermediate the ends thereof. Said rod extends horizontally forwardly, then horizontally inwardly, and has its inner end portion bent upwardly to-form a shaft carried-for axial rotation in a forwardly'and upwardly inclined socket 82 formed 'in'a-solid portion 1340f car body 22. A cli tt secured to the car body extends beneaththe lower ends of :shaft '80 'to prevent accidental removal of said shafts from their sockets. Shafts 80 are parallel'and spaced apart transversely of the car body, but not'sonfar apgrit6 as the pivotal connections' of connecting ro The operation of the car shown in Figs..'l0'and 11 is the same asrthe :car in Figs. 5 to 9 except that the pivoting of the front wheels about separate, spaced apartshaf-ts. 89, and the relation of said shafts to the pivotal points of connecting rod 16, causes thefront wheels to toe slightly inwardly whenever the car enters a turn; This hasbeen found to reduce skidding and thus to providebetter steerability of the car.

Figs. 12 to-l4-show another'methcd of supporting, moving, and providing jchance rotation of drivingmagnetholder'fZO; The turntabl 56 of said holder, carrying the driving magn'ets 5 8, 'isIcarried'forfree man-transnon pin 88. The downwardly extended end of said pin is rigidly fixed to a bracket 90, which is in turn fixed to a j flexible belt 92 by rivets 94, as best shown in Fig.

14. Said belt moves in a plane at all points uniformly spaced below platform I0, and passes about two horizontally disposed flanged pulleys 96 and 98, each of said pulleys being fixed to a shaft I60 journaled respectively at its upper and lower ends in bearing I02 fixed to platform Ill and bearing I04 fixed to housing bottom 8. A bevel gear I06 carried on shaft I below pulley 98 meshes with a bevel gear I08 mounted on shaft IIEI and is driven by motor Ii2 through a suitable speed reduction unit H4. Said motor and speed reducing unit are mounted on the housing bottom 8. The reaches of flexible belt 92 extending between pulleys 96 and 9B are carried slidably in channel guide members H6 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to support standards II8 mounted on the housing bottom 8. Bracket 90 carrying magnet holder 26 extends through the open outer side of said channel guide members. Pulleys 96 and 98 and guide members H6 serve to support belt 92 in such a manner that magnet holder 20 at all times moves in slightly spaced apart relation from the lower side of platform I0. It does not contact said platform.

A rail I20 of any suitable non-magnetic material is fixed to the lower surface of platform I 0. Said rail is of substantially oval shape, and is so disposed as to be spaced slightly outwardly from the outer edge of the orbital path of driving magnet holder 20. A plurality of permanent bar magnets I22 are fixed to the lower edgeof said rail in spaced relation therearound. Said magnets are substantially radially related to the path of magnet holder 2!), the inner poles thereof being adapted to cooperate with the lower poles of driving magnets 58, as shown in Fig. 14. Thus if either of magnets 58 passes closely enough to any of magnets I22 as magnet holder 20 moves along beside rail I26, the force of attraction between said magnets will cause turntable 56 of the holder to rotate on pin 88, which in turn causes cars IE on platform II] to change their relative positions. The inertia of the turntable, and of the moving cars above the platform, will tend to keep the turntable rotating. If, on the other hand, neithe of magnets 58 pass magnets I22 closely enough to be affected thereby, turntable 56 will not be affected by magnets I22. The outcome of a race between cars I6 is therefore purely a matter of chance.

The number and spacing of magnets I22 could be varied at will, and also the polarity of said magnets. Likewise, the number of magnets 58 carried by turntable 56, and the number of cars I6 driven thereby, could be altered. Also, though the vehicles I6 are shown as having the form of racing cars, it is apparent that they could be formed to represent many other objects such as animals or human beings, as long as they are supported by the wheel arrangement shown. These and many other minor variations of construction and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A magnetic toy comprising a platform, a vehicle body, front and rear axles carried movably by said vehicle body, a wheel mounted rotatably at each end of both of said axles for supporting said vehicle body on said platform, a first magnet carried by said vehicle body intermediate said front and rear axles, and a second magnet carried movably beneath said platform and adapted to cooperate with said first magnet to propel said vehicle, said front axle being pivot- ,ally castered to said body on an upwardly and forwardly inclined axis, whereby whenever said front axle is turned said vehicle body will be tilted inwardly on said axles relative to said turn.

by said vehicle bodyfor pivotal movement in a vertical plane transverse to said vehicle body, a wheel mounted rotata'bly at each end of both of said axles for supporting said vehicle on said platform, a first magnet mounted in said vehicle bod intermediate said front and rear axles, a second magnet carried beneath said platform and adapted to attract said first magnet through said platform, and means for moving said second magnet to propel'said vehicle over said platform.

3. A magnetic toy comprising a platform, a vehicle body, a shaft carried by said vehicle body for axial rotation about a forwardly and upwardly inclined axis, a horizontal front axle fixed at its midpoint to said shaft and having its end portions offset rearwardly, a rear axle carried by said vehicle body for vertical movement, said vehicle body being supported by said rear axle at two transversely spaced points'whereby when said body is tilted ill]: will be elevated from said axle, a Wheel mounted rotatably at the ends of both of said axles for supporting said vehicle movably on said platform, a first magnet carried by said vehicle body substantially in line with the rearward edge of the front wheels and having one of its poles closely adjacent said platform, a second magnet carried beneath said platform and having its opposite pole closely adjacent the lower surface of said platform and adapted to attract said first magnet through said platform, and means for moving said second magnet whereby said vehic1e is propelled over said platform.

4. A magnetic toy comprising a non-magnetic platform, a plurality of steerable vehicles supported by said platform, a magnet carried by each of said vehicles and having one pole thereof closel adjacent said platform, a turntable disposed beneath said platform, a support for carrying said turntable for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of magnets carried by said turntable, each of said magnets having one pole disposed closely adjacent said platform and corresponding with one of the magnets carried by said vehicles, and means for moving said turntable support in parallel relation to said platform.

5. A magnetic toy comprising a non-magnetic platform, a plurality of steerable vehicles supported by said platform, a magnet carried by each of said vehicles and having one pole thereof closely adjacent said platform, a turntable disposed beneath said platform, a plurality of magnets carried by said turntable, said turntable magnets being respectively spaced apart a greater distance than the length of one of said vehicles and adapted respectively to cooperate with one of the magnets carried by said vehicles, and a handle fixed to said turntable for rotation about an axis at right angles to said platform, whereby said turntable may be moved in sliding contact with the lower surface of said platform.

6. A magnetic toy comprising a non-magnetic 7 platform, a plurality of steerable vehicles supported by said platform, a magnet carried by .eachof'said-vehicles*andliavingonepolthereof closely adjacent said platform, a turntable disposed beneath said-platform, a -pluralityof magnets carried by said: turntable; said' turntable magnets'beingrespectively'spaced apart agreater distancethan the length of one ofisaid vehicles and adapted respectively' -t,o-*cooper-atewith one of the magnets carried by said vehiclesgamendless belt carriedior movement in-a-plane parallel to "andbeneath'said platform, means for driving said belts, andmeansiorgmounting said turntable on; said belts for-axial rotation, whereby said turntable 'is-mainta'ined in closely-spaced relation from said platform.-

7. A magnetic toy comprising amon-mag'pfltic platform, a--pli1rality io'frsteerable vehicles sup- ..Dorted by said-platform, a ma net carried; by .each'iof said vehicles :and havingpne polethereof closely adjacent said platform, a turntable: disposed beneath saidjplatform, 'a plurality of magnets carried by "said turntable, said turntable magnets being respectively spaced apart ya-greater distance than the length of one ,of said vehicles and adapted to cooperate" respectively with one of the magnets carried by," saidtveliicles, an endless belt carried'formovement in-a-plane,par-

allelto and beneath said ;platfo,rm-, meansfor drivingsaid belt, means formounting'said turntable on said belt-for axial ;rotation, whereby said turntable is'maintained inclosely spaced movably by eachof saidvehicles andjhavingpne pole disposed closelyxadjacentthe, surface ofgsaid platform, an endlessbelt addllllcdjlto moy e;in

.a plane uniformlyspa'ced' beneath ,saidj platiolfm,, .meansfor driving said belt',,,a turntable mounted .for axial rotation on. saidmovable belts and adapted to move in .closely spaced..apart.,rela tion to the lower surface of said platform, .a plurality of magnets carried by saidturntable in spaced: relationabout' the. periphery thereof,

each 1 of" said magnets being vertically "disposed withlitsiupper p'o'le' adjacent; said platform and ported on; said platform, .a' magnet carried adapted-to attract one of the magnets carried 'bysaid-vehicles, and a :plurality of magnets carriedby said platform and disposed in spaced relation-to'anedge of the orbital path of said turntable, whereby to cause axial turning oi said turntableas it moves about its orbital path.

9. Apmagnetie toy comprising anon-magnetic platform, a plurality of steerable vehicles supported on said platform, a'magnet carried removably by each of said vehicles and having one pole disposed Closely adjacent'the surface of said platform, an endless belt adapted to move in a'- planeuniformly spaced beneath said platform. means for driving said belt, a turntable mounted for axial rotation on said movable belt and adapted to move in closely spaced apart relation to-the-lowersurface of said platform, a plurality of magnets carried'by said turntable in spaced relationabout-the peripherythereof, each of said magnets being vertically disposed --with itsupper pole adjacent said platform and adapted to attractone of the magnets carried by said vehicles, and a plurality of magnets carried by said platformgin spacedrelation there- 'below and disposed in spaced relation to the outeredge of the orbital path of said-turntable, said last named magnets being adapted to cooperate withthe lower polesof said turntable magnets =to,cause chance axial rotation of said turntable as it moves around its orbital path.

ROBERT'W. MORRISON.

References Cited-inthe-file-of this patent UNlTEDST-ATES PATWTS 1 Number; Name Date ,264;25 Diinmick Sept. 12, 1882 151501327 Alexander Aug. 17, 1915 2',l86;l8;8 Allen Jan. 9, 1940 2,216,497 McHenry Oct. 1, 1940 2,229,0 Dpnmere Oct. 29, 1940 ;2;2 39;39,5 Mallory V Apr. 22, 1941 2,254,967 Larkins Sept. 2, 1941 2,232,430 Smith May 12, 1942 ..2;386-,-' 4 Yarbroush Oct. 9, 1945 ..2s 6;' .3 Gibson. Oct. 25, 1949 2,591,296 Brvackett Mar. 21, 1950 225%;4 Robins Apr. 10, 1951 

